Pelargonium plant named ‘duepeltexmexrub17’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’, characterized by its upright and rounded plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves; early and freely flowering habit; semi-double red purple-colored flowers with light red purple-colored centers; and good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium×hortorum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEPELTEXMEXRUB17’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Pelargonium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium×hortorum, commonly referred to as Zonal Geranium, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’.

The new Pelargonium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Kako, Ethiopia and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Pelargonium plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Pelargonium plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in October, 2012 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code designation PZ10-005406-008, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code designation PZ10-006703-002, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Pelargonium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in June, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pelargonium plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since July, 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Pelargonium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Pelargonium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’ as a new and distinct Pelargonium plant:

-   -   1. Upright and rounded plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely basal branching habit.     -   4. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Semi-double red purple-colored flowers with light red         purple-colored centers.     -   7. Good garden performance and high temperature tolerance.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower petal color as plants of the female parent selection have salmon-colored flower petals with white-colored margins.

Plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have hot pink-colored flowers with white-colored centers.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Duetemefi’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,114. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of ‘Duetemefi’ in flower shape as flowers of plants of the new Pelargonium are more rounded and not as open as flowers of plants of ‘Duetemefi’.

Plants of the new Pelargonium can also be compared to plants of Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Duetemeby’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Pelargonium differ primarily from plants of ‘Duetemeby’ in growth habit as plants of the new Pelargonium are more freely branching and denser than plants of ‘Duetemeby’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Pelargonium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Pelargonium plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 25-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Zonal Geranium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 135 watt/m². Plants were eight weeks old when the photograph was taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium×hortorum ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code designation             PZ10-005406-008, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of             Pelargonium×hortorum identified as code designation             PZ10-006703-002, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 18 days at             temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 21 days at             temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 25 days             at temperatures ranging from 22° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 28 days             at temperatures ranging from 20° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             grey white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Upright and rounded plant habit; densely             foliated.         -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; moderate             growth rate; freely basal branching habit with about nine             basal branches developing per plant.         -   Plant height, to top of floral plane.—About 38.5 cm.         -   Plant height, to top of foliar plane.—About 27.4 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 58.3 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 23.2 cm. Diameter: About             8 mm. Internode length: About 3 cm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 143C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 9.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Reniform.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 138A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A; venation,             close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 148B; venation, close to 143C. Zonation pattern: Not             discernible.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 14.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double round flowers arranged in             rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;             umbels displayed above the foliar plane on strong peduncles;             flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 25             flowers and flower buds per umbel and numerous umbels             developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Flowering season.—In The Netherlands, flowering is             continuous from spring through the summer; early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about eight weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to             seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Umbel height.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 11 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 4.3 cm by 4.8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 146B.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About nine. Length: About             2.6 cm. Width: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Round.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to N57A; towards the base,             close to 62B to 62D; venation, close to N57A; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to N57C; towards the base, close to             62D; venation, close to N57C; color does not change with             development.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About three. Length: About 6             mm to 12 mm. Width: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Obovate.             Apex: Round. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57A;             venation, close to N57A; color does not change with             development. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to N57C; venation, close to N57C; color does not             change with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five arranged in a single             whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:             Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate to apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper surface: Close to 146B. Color, lower surface:             Close to 146D.         -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 12.2 cm. Diameter:             About 3.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N137A.         -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 4.2 cm.             Diameter: About 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Angle:             Mostly upright. Texture: Smooth, glabous. Color: Close to             N137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:             About five. Filament length: About 2.6 mm. Filament color:             Close to 67A. Anther length: About 1.2 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong. Anther color: Close to 185A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil             quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.3 mm.             Stigma shape: Decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 59C. Style             length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 59D. Ovary color:             Close to 194A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Pelargonium. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Pelargonium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Pelargonium have been observed     to have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to 45° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Pelargonium plant named ‘Duepeltexmexrub17’ as illustrated and described. 